Politics
by Aristotle
First, read Plato’s Republic. Then you can read Aristotle. It’s only fair, since he was Plato’s student and protégé. If you’re not used to political writings, especially ancient ones, this might seem a little daunting, but trust me, you’ll get through it. You can look at it with irony, sadness, or happiness at human relativity, but the truth is politics hasn’t changed that much through the centuries. Entire college courses have been devoted to studying Aristotle’s philosophies, and we’re still not any closer to finding the meaning of life than he was!
In Politics, Aristotle asks questions about the individual’s role in society. How should one conduct himself in order to be useful to the state and to his fellow citizens? He delves into the nature of an ideal society, much like his teacher Plato did in The Republic. Those who have already studied Plato will see the student, clearly admiring his mentor but wanting to contribute his own theories to the same questions, and that in itself makes it a fascinating read.
If you’re interested in studied the Founding Fathers of philosophy and “the ideal society”, Plato and Aristotle are must-reads. Just take it slow and don’t get overwhelmed by the structure. (But don’t worry if you get overwhelmed and take a long time to get through it. I was a political science student and got overwhelmed myself!) Just remember that he’s just like you: wondering, unsure, and hopeful.
In Politics, Aristotle asks questions about the individual’s role in society. How should one conduct himself in order to be useful to the state and to his fellow citizens? He delves into the nature of an ideal society, much like his teacher Plato did in The Republic. Those who have already studied Plato will see the student, clearly admiring his mentor but wanting to contribute his own theories to the same questions, and that in itself makes it a fascinating read.
If you’re interested in studied the Founding Fathers of philosophy and “the ideal society”, Plato and Aristotle are must-reads. Just take it slow and don’t get overwhelmed by the structure. (But don’t worry if you get overwhelmed and take a long time to get through it. I was a political science student and got overwhelmed myself!) Just remember that he’s just like you: wondering, unsure, and hopeful.